Any correlation between foraging distances observed and forage availability

[Yukon Bees]

Hi,

Being the only beekeeper in my area it is really easy for me to spot my bees on stands of flowers. I keep my bees in boreal forest with native meadows and stands of mixed forage over the season. Currently the fireweed is in full bloom. I have spotted my bees about 3.5km from their hive. I was just wondering if there had been any studies on forage availability and distance traveled by bees. As this is the only real nectar flow in my area I would like to determine if my area can sustain one more hive (currently have 3). Early season forage is plentiful but by August the findings become slim. I need to start my fall feeding mid to late August.

[Blacksheep]

Sounds great and I hope you have a great year and get lots of Honey!!

[Caribou]

I'm west of you a few hours drive.  around here most beekeepers harvest in the first half of August.  It varies from year to year but typically that is when the forage is diminishing. 

I don't know where you are but on my drives from Anchorage to Haines or Prince Rupert I have seen plenty of fireweed and many other flowers and enough trees to fill a forest.   I should think you can have many hives.  The bees can forage out 5 Km and I have read studies that show them going over twice that far.  The further they have to go the smaller the return due to the energy they use.

[Michael Bush]

Most areas can support 20 or so hives.  But then I've never had bees in the Yukon.  My guess is that when you have a flow it will be more than any number of hives can manage, but the dearths would be rough.

[Yukon Bees]

I am about 40km off the Alaska Highway on the way to Skagway, AK. The Alaska Highway is endowed with multitudes of invasive plants (sweetclover, sainfoin, etc...) that flower into September that gives most beekeepers along it decent yields. Unfortunately I am stuck with only the native plants which is hit or miss. i.e. We've had torrential rains and cooler cloudy weather since the beginning of July thus messing up my only nectar flow so far....

[GSF]

Yukon, I bet yall play the dickens trying to wait on temperatures to do a hive inspection.

[Yukon Bees]

We actually get decent summers with average temps of 22C (71F)... We got an early start this year where the 1st willows were producing pollen mid April. Long days make up for the shorter season "usually". I am now placing my hives in full sun pointing slightly to the west to take advantage of the warmer evenings and lessen the impact of cooler mornings. This year I have seen my bees out foraging ~8AM to 10PM and slightly more if the temps stay over 15C.

[Yukon Bees]

Interesting article on the subject
http://beesource.com/point-of-view/joe-traynor/how-far-do-bees-fly-one-mile-two-seven-and-why/

[GSF]

Interesting about the long hours, I didn't take that into account. Heck, it's usually 73-75 when I get up at 3:45am.